Is the course really free?

Yes, completely. No hidden fees, no credit card required. The free training covers wills, LPAs and trusts in full — the same content other UK providers charge £600–£1,000 for. We give it away because we make our money from the optional coached programme that comes after.

Do I need any qualifications?

No formal qualifications needed. Will writing is unregulated in the UK. What matters is proper training — which we provide.

How long does the course take?

Most people complete it in 2–4 weeks, studying a few hours per week. It's self-paced, so you can go faster or slower.

What's the difference between the free course and the coached programme?

The free course teaches the legal knowledge — wills, LPAs and trusts. The coached programme is the optional next step that teaches the sales and business side: how to find clients, charge properly, and build a real estate planning business stage by stage. £199/month for four months, then £99/month for WILLO ongoing.

Can I do this part-time?

Absolutely. Most of our students run it 3–4 hours a day, 3 days a week, around other commitments. You choose your own hours.

What if I just want the free training and stop there?

Brilliant. Plenty of people do — they use what they learn to look after their own family's documents in WILLO. There's no pressure to progress to the coached programme.

What is the best estate planning course in the UK?

There's no single "best" course—it depends on your goals. For fastest employment, employer-sponsored training excels. For industry credentials, IPW Level 4 or SWW qualifications are well-respected. For complex trust/tax work, STEP is gold standard. For most career changers, practical training with employment pathway offers best outcomes.

Do I need professional qualifications to be an estate planner?

No, will writing is unregulated in the UK. However, professional body membership (IPW, SWW) provides credibility, insurance, and client confidence. Many successful practitioners have employer training plus professional body membership rather than formal qualifications.

How much should I spend on estate planning training?

You can spend £0 (employer-sponsored) to £15,000+ (CILEX/STEP). For most career changers, £2,000-£4,000 provides solid professional qualification. Or combine free employer training with professional body membership (£200-£300/year) for minimal cost.

What's the difference between IPW and SWW qualifications?

Both are respected professional bodies. IPW tends to be more structured with clearer progression levels. SWW has longer history and strong practitioner network. Most employers value either equally. Choose based on training format preference rather than perceived prestige.

Is STEP worth it for will writing?

Usually not. STEP is designed for complex trust and estate work, typically for solicitors and accountants. It's expensive (£5,000-£12,000+), takes years, and focuses on areas most will writers don't need. Excellent if you want high-net-worth advisory roles, overkill for straightforward estate planning.

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Course Comparison

Estate Planning Course Comparison UK 2026

Complete comparison of every major estate planning course in the UK. Compare costs, duration, accreditation, and real career outcomes to find the right training for you.

By Alex Stansbury, Founder

•

20 min read

•Updated January 2026

Why Comparing Courses Matters

Choosing the wrong training is one of the biggest mistakes aspiring estate planners make.

Estate planning training in the UK ranges from £500 to £15,000+. Some courses lead directly to employment. Others are purely academic with no career pathway. A few are excellent. Many are mediocre. Some are outright scams.

The uncomfortable truth about estate planning training:

There's no single "required" qualification because will writing is unregulated in the UK. This creates confusion—and opportunity for training providers to charge premium prices for qualifications that don't necessarily lead to better outcomes.

What actually matters:

•Practical skills you can use immediately
•Industry recognition (do employers value it?)
•Software training available
•Business development support
•Post-qualification employment pathways
•Real mentoring from working practitioners

What matters less than you'd think:

•Number of letters after your name
•Academic prestige
•Cost (expensive doesn't mean better)
•Duration (longer isn't always better)

This guide provides honest, unbiased comparison based on actual career outcomes rather than marketing materials.

Major Training Providers Overview

The UK estate planning training landscape:

1. Institute of Professional Willwriters (IPW)

•Established professional body
•Offers qualifications from Level 3 to Level 6
•Cost: £2,000-£6,000 depending on level
•Duration: 6-18 months
•Format: Online with some face-to-face options
•Recognition: Industry standard for will writing
•Employment pathway: Graduates find employment but no guaranteed jobs

2. Society of Will Writers (SWW)

•Oldest will writing body in UK
•Various qualification pathways
•Cost: £1,500-£4,500
•Duration: 6-12 months
•Format: Online and face-to-face
•Recognition: Widely respected
•Employment pathway: Network of member firms

3. STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners)

•Premium, internationally recognised
•Focus on trust, tax, and estate administration
•Cost: £5,000-£12,000+
•Duration: 1-3 years
•Format: Academic study with exams
•Recognition: Gold standard for complex work
•Employment pathway: Solicitors, accountancy firms, wealth managers

4. CILEX (Chartered Institute of Legal Executives)

•Legal qualification route
•Wills and probate specialism available
•Cost: £8,000-£15,000 full qualification
•Duration: 2-4 years
•Format: Academic + workplace learning
•Recognition: Formal legal qualification
•Employment pathway: Law firms, legal departments

5. Independent Training Providers

•Various quality levels
•Usually practical focus
•Cost: £500-£3,000
•Duration: Days to months
•Format: Varies widely
•Recognition: Provider-dependent
•Employment pathway: Often includes job placement

6. Employer-Sponsored Training

•Companies like Project Will, National Will Writing, etc.
•Cost: Often free (tied to employment)
•Duration: Weeks to months
•Format: On-the-job + structured learning
•Recognition: Internal certification
•Employment pathway: Direct employment

Quick comparison:

|----------|------|----------|-----------------|-------------|

| IPW | £2-6k | 6-18mo | Medium | Good |

| SWW | £1.5-4.5k | 6-12mo | Medium | Good |

| STEP | £5-12k | 1-3yr | Low | Limited |

| CILEX | £8-15k | 2-4yr | Low | Solicitors |

IPW Training - Detailed Review

Institute of Professional Willwriters (IPW)

What they offer:

•Level 3 Diploma in Will Preparation
•Level 4 Diploma in Will Writing
•Level 6 Advanced Diploma
•CPD courses and specialisations

Strengths:

•Industry recognition—most employers know and respect IPW qualifications
•Comprehensive curriculum covering all will types
•Good theoretical foundation
•Professional body membership included
•Annual conference and networking

Weaknesses:

•Heavy on theory, lighter on practical application
•No guaranteed employment pathway
•Software training not always included
•Limited business development training
•Can feel academic rather than vocational

Best suited for:

•Career changers who want thorough grounding
•People who learn well from structured study
•Those planning to work for existing firms initially
•Individuals who value industry credentials

Real outcomes:

•Most graduates find employment within 3-6 months
•Starting salaries: £22,000-£30,000 typically
•Good foundation but practical skills develop on-the-job

Cost breakdown:

•Level 3: £1,800-£2,200
•Level 4: £2,500-£3,500
•Level 6: £4,000-£6,000
•Annual membership: £180-£300
•Exam fees: Included in some, extra for others

Student feedback themes:

"Good theoretical content but wished there was more practical preparation."

"Felt well-prepared for exams but less prepared for actual client work."

"Respected qualification that opened doors."

SWW and STEP Training - Detailed Reviews

Society of Will Writers (SWW) Training

What they offer:

•Foundation courses
•Advanced will writing
•Trust training
•LPA certification
•Probate courses

Strengths:

•Oldest professional body—established reputation
•Strong member network
•Practical focus in training
•Good complaint handling processes
•Annual conferences well-attended

Weaknesses:

•Some courses dated in approach
•Online learning platform basic
•Quality varies between trainers
•Software training separate cost
•Business support limited

Best suited for:

•Those wanting established credentials
•People who value networking opportunities
•Career changers who want traditional pathway
•Those planning to join SWW member firms

Real outcomes:

•Good employment prospects with member firms
•Starting salaries: £22,000-£28,000
•Strong professional network access

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STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners)

What they offer:

•STEP Certificate in Estate and Trust Administration
•STEP Diploma
•Advanced Certificate programmes
•International recognition

Strengths:

•Gold standard for complex estate work
•Internationally recognised
•Opens doors to high-value advisory roles
•Excellent for tax planning focus
•Strong professional network globally

Weaknesses:

•Very expensive
•Heavily academic
•Not practical for will writing
•Designed for lawyers/accountants primarily
•Overkill for straightforward estate planning

Best suited for:

•Those targeting wealth management sector
•Solicitors wanting estate specialism
•Accountants adding services
•High-net-worth client focus
•International/cross-border work

Real outcomes:

•Respected but often not needed for will writing
•Better for estate administration roles
•Salaries: £45,000-£80,000+ (but in different roles)

Honest assessment:

STEP is excellent for what it does but wrong choice for most aspiring will writers. It's designed for professionals in law or accountancy who want to specialise in trusts and estates. For straightforward will writing and estate planning, it's expensive overkill.

CILEX and Academic Routes

CILEX Legal Executive Pathway

What they offer:

•Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice
•Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma
•Graduate Fast-track Diploma
•Wills and Probate specialism

Strengths:

•Full legal qualification
•Authorised to conduct reserved legal activities
•Can progress to solicitor
•Regulated profession
•Strong for litigation/disputes

Weaknesses:

•Very expensive (£8,000-£15,000+)
•Takes 2-4 years
•Academic focus
•Limited practical training
•Designed for law firm employment

Best suited for:

•Those wanting full legal career
•People planning to work in law firms
•Those interested in probate litigation
•Long-term career in regulated legal services

Real outcomes:

•Employment in law firms
•Starting salaries: £22,000-£28,000 rising to £40,000+
•Can become solicitor with further training
•Different career path to independent estate planning

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University Courses

Various universities offer:

•LLB with wills focus
•Postgraduate certificates
•Law conversion courses

Honest assessment:

University routes are expensive, slow, and not designed for practical will writing. They're appropriate if you want to be a solicitor. For estate planning careers, they're the wrong choice for most people.

The academic trap:

Many people assume more qualifications = better career. In estate planning, practical ability matters more than academic credentials. A practitioner with six months' real experience typically outperforms someone with an LLB and no practical training.

Independent and Employer Training

Independent Training Providers

Various companies offer estate planning training outside the major professional bodies.

Characteristics:

•Huge variation in quality
•Often very practical focus
•Usually shorter duration
•Sometimes include software training
•May include job placement

How to evaluate independent providers:

Good signs:

•Trainers are working practitioners
•Software training available
•Practical exercises with feedback
•Clear employment outcomes
•Verifiable graduate success stories
•Reasonable pricing (not too cheap or expensive)
•Ongoing support after training

Warning signs:

•No verifiable trainer credentials
•Guarantees that sound too good
•Pressure selling tactics
•No refund policy
•Unable to provide graduate contacts
•Very short courses (1-2 days for "complete" training)
•Claims of guaranteed income

Questions to ask any provider:

1. Who are the trainers and what's their background?

2. How many graduates have found employment?

3. Can I speak to recent graduates?

4. What software training is included?

5. What support is available after course completion?

6. What is your refund/guarantee policy?

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Employer-Sponsored Training

Companies offering training with employment:

•Project Will (comprehensive training, WILLO software, employment)
•National Will Writing (internal training programmes)
•Various regional firms (apprenticeship-style)

Advantages:

•Often free (training tied to employment)
•Immediately practical
•Real clients from day one
•Mentoring included
•Income while learning

Considerations:

•May have employment commitments
•Training quality varies by company
•Limited portability of internal certifications
•Focus on company's specific processes

Best suited for:

•Career changers wanting fastest path to income
•Those who learn best by doing
•People who want employment security
•Those willing to commit to employer for initial period

Our recommendation:

For most career changers, employer-sponsored training offers the best combination of practical skills, employment security, and minimal financial risk.